We Heart Winter

Who'da thunk it?   Take a bunch of wimpy little desert rats and transplant them to an environment of changing autumn leaves, spring blossoms, and yes, winter snow and ice, and not only do they adapt, THEY LOVE IT!  We have truly grown to love winter here.  How can you not love waking up in the morning and looking out your front window to find giant snowflakes falling quietly to the ground?  And sledding!  I think sledding is about the best FREE family activity there ever was and ever will be.  I'm sure I'll get some comments from a few of you who disagree with my perspective on the cold weather, but I'm not ashamed to own it:  I LOVE WINTER IN UTAH!

So grown up (and beautiful).  I can't stand it.  Wasn't she just born the other day?

A rare moment:  Ben and Livvi touching each other without drawing blood.

Tiny Lucas.  Don't ya just wanna take a big bite out of him?

Look closely to the right of Livvi's head.

Gotta love the girl sprawled out flat on her back at the bottom of the hill

I just took this because I loved the view of the mountains and sky.

Did I mention that I really love winter here?

These are sort of random, but I took the kids out for pizza last weekend, and we went to this place that brings you these mahvelous bread sticks...well...on a stick!   They're sort of like bread stick skewers.  Much to my dismay, however, the kids like to play with the sticks (aka weapons) at the table for the remainder of the meal.  They're showing us some of their creative uses for breadstick sticks here:

I refer you to my earlier caption about Livvi, Ben, and drawing blood.

A Decade of Hallie

10 years ago, on January 5, 2000, I gave birth to a wirey, blonde-headed, bird-legged little angel.   She was my first daughter and my first born.  I can't believe she's hit the double digits now.  I can't believe it's been ten whole years since motherhood landed on me like a piano.

My little Hallie has been a beaming ray of sunshine since the day she was born.  In honor of her big one-O, I've put together my list of top ten reasons I love my Hallie Liz:

1.  She's my oldest.  I get to make all my mistakes on her.  And she still loves me.

2. She's the Energizer Bunny.  She keeps going...and going...and going...

3.  She's kind.  She cares about others' feelings and is always making sure everyone's happy...especially mommy.

4.  She's a wonderful big sister.  Her little brothers love her.  She's always good for a piggyback ride or dragging them around on one of their toy cars outside.

5.  Hallie is so helpful.  She loves to serve and always does so willingly, sometimes without being asked.

6.  She's tender-hearted.

7.  Hallie has the best sense of humor of any ten year old I know.  (translation:  she laughs at the same stuff as I do)

8.  The girl is smart.  She won her 3rd grade spelling bee last year.  She's an excellent student and her teachers always give her glowing reviews.

9. Hallie is fun.  She's not afraid to get up and dance or sing in front of a group.  She's got some pretty dang impressive moves, too.

10.  She's so thoughtful.  When I'm sad or angry or worn out, I can always count on Hallie to draw a happy little picture or a note and leave it lying around to surprise me.  Hallie is Giselle from Enchanted.  Never seen it?  You need to.

Happy birthday, my little chicken legs!  I love you!